FL hospitals brace for fight over trauma units

A longstanding battle between for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals over trauma centers could have a major skirmish this week in the waning days of this year's legislative session. Groups representing Florida's nonprofit hospitals that operate in major urban areas such as Tampa and Jacksonville are bracing for last-minute amendments to health care bills that could help for-profit hospital chain HCA in its legal battle to open up new trauma centers in the state. The legislative effort coincides with a national group called the 60 Plus Association airing television ads in the Tallahassee area that contends "powerful special interests" are blocking access to trauma care. The group's website is critical of "taxpayer subsidized hospitals" raising legal challenges to the creation of new trauma units.